History teacher George Frye teaches the division of power in the federal Legislature to his first period United States Government class at Palmetto Ridge High School on Thursday, Feb 17, 2011, in Naples. Like many other Florida teachers, Frye faces a daily challenge balancing the needs of the students in his classroom with the pressures applied by state mandates. David Albers/Staff

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES - With all the talk statewide and nationally about holding teachers accountable — getting rid of the bad teachers while keeping the good — George Frye opened his classroom so that the public could see what being a teacher is all about.

George Frye is talking to his Palmetto Ridge High School students about the Scopes Monkey Trial and the teaching of evolution versus creation as part of an American history class when a student asks him a sticky question.

"Mr. Frye, what do you believe?" the student asks, prompting Frye to pause and think about his answer before he replies.

"Do I think of evolution as an explanation for the origin of the species? No, I do not," he said, then explains his belief that evolution exists within species.

After he answers, Frye tells his students to think about it themselves.

"My purpose for bringing this up is not to persuade you one way or another," he said. "I don't have all the answers. So many people your age only have access to limited information. You have the freedom to learn, to grow, to expand your minds. It is one of the best freedoms we have. ... I hope as a teacher I give you that freedom (to think)."

Monday through Friday, Frye arrives at Palmetto Ridge High in Golden Gate Estates with the express goal of making a difference in the lives of his students.

"I try to get them involved and engaged. Anyone who gets engaged will gain," he said.

With all the talk statewide and nationally about holding teachers accountable — getting rid of the bad teachers while keeping the good — Frye opened his classroom so that the public could see what being a teacher is all about. He said he hopes by seeing what a typical day is like for a teacher, the public will understand that teachers work hard and do their best.

"There are some very fine teachers out there," he said. "I want people to understand that teaching is not arriving at 7 (a.m.) and leaving at 2:30 (p.m.). I put in 10-, 11-, 12-hour days. And I do it because we enjoy it."

Frye teaches six classes — one U.S. government class and five American history classes. The American history classes are the same lesson done repeatedly, but Frye changes his style based on the mood of his class, the participation of the students and the questions asked.

"He's a chill teacher. His class is stressful sometimes. He puts a lot of pressure on us because he wants us to be good," said junior Sara Brand, 16. "He makes us work. But I actually learn in his class."

New legislation leaves current pay plans, which are based largely on the number of years worked, for teachers on the job.

New teachers would get raises based on their performance and wouldn't have the tenure-like protections current teachers have.

All teachers would be evaluated under the system that would use student growth on tests as a key measurement, but also would take into account factors outside a teacher's control, like students' absentee rates.

Frye is big on power point presentations, which he encourages students to take notes on. But while talking about the information on the screen at the front of his classroom, Frye peppers the class with interesting tidbits about the historical figures he is talking about. Baseball giant Babe Ruth, he tells his students, had as many strikeouts as home runs. Ernest Hemingway was an ambulance driver in World War I, which explains why his famous novels like "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and "A Farewell to Arms" are about disillusionment with war.

"He's a chill teacher. His class is stressful sometimes. He puts a lot of pressure on us because he wants us to be good," said junior Sara Brand, 16. "He makes us work. But I actually learn in his class."

Frye enjoys students who are interested in learning, but admits some of his favorite students are ones who have to work at getting a good grade.

"They really try. I really respect those students," he said. "They have been taught that a good work ethic can help you succeed in the world."

To Frye, the saddest students are those who don't try. Almost every class he teaches has one.

"It's sad because they are taking an opportunity and wasting it," he said. "There are some kids who are not looking to succeed or achieve. They are just looking to get by. It is frustrating."

But that doesn't mean they can't be helped, Frye said.

He is reminded of a student with a "miserable home situation" who announced that she wouldn't pass. Frye complimented her every day on her work and her grades began to go up, building her confidence. He is reminded of the boy who acted out in class, masking the pain of a relative's death, which Frye was unaware of until the boy drew a tombstone with the relative's name on it.

He said plans for educators to be evaluated partially on the performance of students is "grossly unfair."

"You have no say-so in the students you get,'' he said. "Your pay could be affected by issues that are out of your control. The way it is being talked about now, it is not fair."

Frye said he understands what it means to motivate people to learn and state leaders should learn what it means as well.

"I understand the idea of rewarding for performance. But if you want to reward for performance, you have to encourage it. You have to give teachers the encouragement and tools to do it," he said.

Frye expresses the same frustrations with some of the policies implemented by the Collier County School District in recent years, including allowing students to progress from ninth to 10th grade when they haven't achieved the credits.

District officials have said the policy gives students confidence, which could keep them from dropping out.

"You want to encourage students to learn? You have to give them a reason to do so," he said. "If a student doesn't pass a class or earns one credit and next year he's a sophomore, what incentive does he have to get a better grade?"

George Frye said plans for educators to be evaluated partially on the performance of students is "grossly unfair."

"You have no say-so in the students you get,'' he said. "Your pay could be affected by issues that are out of your control. The way it is being talked about now, it is not fair."

George Frye teaches six of seven class periods per day, which leaves him with 49 minutes of planning time during the day. Contractually, he is obligated to stay after school for an additional 30 minutes.

The other thing that irritates him is a lack of time. Frye teaches six of seven class periods per day, which leaves him with 49 minutes of planning time during the day. Contractually, he is obligated to stay after school for an additional 30 minutes.

But if parents and students think that is all the time it takes Frye to plan for his classes, they are mistaken.

"If you divided the time I have to plan by the number of students I have, it works out to about 19 seconds per student," he said.

On a recent Thursday, Frye spent his planning period not working on lessons, but on recommending some students for honors government next year. Before he can recommend them, though, he discusses his choices with Cindy Tews, his co-teacher.

"If I think there are some students who might not qualify academically into honors or Advanced Placement, but they have the work ethic to handle those classes, I want to encourage them," he said.

This is the first year Frye and Tews have co-taught a class.

"I typically ask the questions they won't ask," she said. "It's been a great experience. George's enthusiasm is contagious."

Frye comes to teaching as a second career. He was working as a station manager for a regional airline in Iowa. He decided to move back to Florida to be closer to his mother and daughter, taking work first with a travel agency and then in charter aircraft sales for a company. But it went bankrupt.

Frye applied to teach in Collier County and was hired.

"I had taught school at the Naples Christian Academy before I moved to Iowa," he said. "I enjoyed it. It was fun."

He started out teaching math at Palmetto Ridge and did so until this year when he was given a position in the social studies department.

"I really have a passion for this," he said of social studies. "This is where I need to be. Don't get me wrong, I like math, too."

Andrei Escobar, a 16-year-old junior, said he likes Frye's class.

"He's an awesome teacher," he said. "He gives us good advice. Everything he says is spot-on. He's the best teacher I have. It's the way he teaches and his attitude toward it."